History

2014AXA, the #1 Global Insurance BrandFor the sixth year in a row, AXA has maintained its position as a leading global insurance brand as ranked by Interbrand. All industries combined, AXA is ranked 53rd of the top global brands.

2014Digital footprintAXA announces two strategics partnerships with Facebook and LinkedIn and become the first insurer to launch its own .brand website.

2014AXA renews its support of CAREAXA renews its partnership, begun in 2011, with the NGO CARE to help vulnerable populations better protect themselves against environmental risks, pledging an additional 2.3 million of financial support over three years to continue existing projects and expand the program to include new countries in Central and South America.

2013New support for international researchAXA allocates a second 100 million to the AXA Research Fund.Since its establishment in 2007, the Fund has financed 367 academic research projects in 27 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

2013AXA buys a stake in Tian Ping in ChinaAXA acquires 50% of Tian Ping, a Chinese P&C insurer with strong direct distribution capabilities, becoming the largest international insurer operating in China.

2013AXA Lab connects AXA to Silicon ValleyAXA creates AXA Lab in San Francisco, reinforcing its innovation capabilities and digital culture.With this pioneering move in the insurance world, AXA advances toward its goal to become the leading digital and multi-access insurer.

2013AXA gains a foothold in Latin AmericaAXA acquires 51% of the insurance operations of Colpatria Seguros in Colombia*, becoming the country's fourth largest insurer and number two player in the P&C market.

2012AXA partners with HSBCAXA acquires the HSBC's P&C businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico.The deal includes an exclusive 10-year P&C bancassurance agreement with HSBC in India, Indonesia and China in addition to these countries.AXA becomes the leading P&C insurer in Hong Kong.

2012AXA signs Sustainable Insurance and Responsible Investment PrinciplesAXA signs the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Insurance and Principles for Responsible Investment. In so doing, the Group commits to incorporating ESG criteria into its insurance activities and promote responsible investment.

2012New edge in chinese life insurance marketOfficial launch in China of ICBC-AXA Life, the life insurance joint-venture formed with the world's largest bank, ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Co. Ltd) and its long-standing partner, Minmetals.

2011European agreement on anticipating changesA framework agreement on anticipating changes in AXA Group entities located in the European Union has been signed with the management and representative trade unions. This agreement sets out a social dialogue approach whose objective is to better anticipate changes within the sector in order to adapt the employees' skills to future needs.

2011AXA, world's top insurance brandFor the third year in a row, AXA is ranked as the world's top global insurance brand by Interbrand. Overall, AXA is also the 4th best brand in France.

2011Ambition AXA strategic plan is launchedWith its strategic plan running to 2015, AXA reiterates its goal of becoming the preferred company by becoming genuinely customer centric and building a strong corporate culture based on trust and success. Ambition AXA is structured around three priorities: selectivity, acceleration and efficiency.

2011AXA joins forces with CAREIndia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines: AXA and the international NGO CARE have joined forces to assist populations at risk improve their efforts to be prepared to face weather-related risks. This three-year partnership is part of AXA's global philanthropic program aimed at promoting risk prevention and education.

2011Global Forum for LongevityAXA initiated the Global Forum for Longevity meetings. Multidisciplinary, trans-generational and international in scope, the Forum is a place for researchers, experts and decision makers to exchange knowledge. It was created to achieve greater understanding of the mechanisms and challenges of increasing life expectancy for our societies.

2010A new dimension in ChinaBy adding ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Co. Ltd) to its joint venture with AXA-Minmetals Assurance (AXA MM), the Group has embarked on a cooperative enterprise aimed at increasing its presence in the Chinese market significantly. The new company has adopted the name ICBC-AXA Life Insurance Co.

2010Change in the structure of governanceOn April 29, 2010, the shareholders of AXA ratified the decision to change AXA's form of governance by forming a board of directors. Henri de Castries was appointed Chairman and CEO. The board of directors was composed of 15 members, 11 of whom are independent.

2010AXA ranks among top 5 in MalaysiaAXA Affin General Insurance, a joint venture of AXA SA and Affin Holdings Berhad, announced the acquisition of BH Insurance Berhad, strengthening AXA's position in the Malaysian market.

2010AXA delists from NYSELast year, AXA decided to delist from the New York Stock Exchange, since 95% of all transactions involving its stock occur on the Euronext Paris exchange.

2009Anchors eastThe Group announced the acquisition of the Rumanian Omniasig Life AXA, reinforcing its position in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic via the buyout of minority interests held by EBRD.

2008Departure of Claude BébéarAfter having served the AXA Group for 50 years, and 8 years after having stepped down as CEO of the AXA Group, Claude Bébéar stepped down as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

2008The Group consolidates its property-casualty businessThe Group bought OYAK's 50% equity stake in AXA OYAK, Turkey's top property-casualty insurer. AXA also acquired an interest in RESO, Russia's number two property-casualty insurer.

2008AXA in Latin AmericaAXA bought the third largest insurance company in Mexico, ING Seguros.

2007Setting out for emerging marketsAXA entered the South Korean and Ukrainian markets. In South Korea, the acquisition of Kyobo Auto allowed the Group to become the top direct seller of motor insurance. In the Ukraine, AXA gained control of the 6th largest property-casualty insurer.

2007New distribution channel in ItalyThe Group signed a long-term agreement with the Italian bank Banca Monte Dei Paschi di Siena for the distribution of life & savings and property-casualty insurance.

2006AXA becomes number 1 in SwitzerlandThe acquisition of Winterthur Assurances marked a new step in European development, and in the dynamic markets of Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Asia.

2005The Group gains ground in asset managementAXA consolidated its asset management business with the acquisition of Framlington in the UK.

2005New markets openAXA took its first steps in life insurance in India, with Bharti Enterprises Private Ltd, and began direct selling in Portugal.

2005New strategic plan is launchedThe Ambition 2012 strategic plan was adopted. Its aim was to make AXA the preferred company of its clients, employees and shareholders.

2005Employee stock ownershipThe AXA-FINAXA merger allowed AXA to simplify its capital ownership structure. AXA then decided to distribute shares to its employees (who now own between 4% and 6% of its equity capital).

2003The Group makes strides in the United States and in AsiaAXA announced the acquisition of the US life insurer MONY (Mutual of New York). The Group gained ground in Asia, the Philippines and Thailand, in Indonesia and in China.

2002Banking division growsAXA acquired Banque Direct, a subsidiary of BNP-Paribas, and began to streamline its portfolio via AXA Banque.

2000Buyout in the United KingdomThe Group bought out the remaining minority interests in Sun Life & Provincial Holdings in the United Kingdom.

2000North American presence is strengthenedAlliance Capital Management, an asset management subsidiary of the Group, acquired US-based Sanford Bernstein. AXA bought out the remaining minority interests in its US subsidiary AXA Financial.

2000Management Board gets a new ChairmanHenri de Castries succeeded Claude Bébéar as Chairman of the AXA Management Board. Mr. Bébéar became Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

1999The Group affirms its global reachNational Mutual Life Insurance Company was taken over by the Group, becoming AXA Asia Pacific. The Group bought the UK-based Guardian Royal Exchange, entered the Chinese market (with AXA Minmetals), and also launched operations in Turkey (AXA Oyak), Lebanon (AXA Middle East) and Japan (with Nippon Dantai, which became AXA Nishida).

1997Birth of AXA EquitableThe Equitable Life Assurance Company became wholly owned by the AXA Group, and changed its name to AXA Equitable.

1996Group develops in MoroccoAXA began operations in Morocco with the acquisition of Assurance Al Amane. In 2000, AXA Assurance Maroc was born.

1996AXA and UAP unite in a merger-acquisitionOn November 12, AXA bought UAP. The two companies signed their takeover agreement, which gave rise to the biggest corporation in France based on revenues (313 billion French francs) and the world's largest insurer.

1996AXA goes to Wall StreetThe AXA share was admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Each security represented half of one AXA share, stated in dollars and trending in line with the AXA share price adjusted for the dollar/franc exchange rate parity.

1995Foray into the Asian marketAXA acquired a stake in National Mutual Life Insurance Company, Australia's second largest life insurer. In addition to Australia, AXA began doing business in New Zealand and Hong Kong and also started operating as AXA Life in Japan.

1994Group asset management developsThe Group took its first steps in the asset management business with the creation of AXA Asset Management Europe, which later became AXA Investment Managers.

1994The Group steps up its international developmentAXA acquired Boréal Assurances in Canada and Victoire Belgium in Belgium. AXA Asset Management Europe, the Group's asset management specialist in Europe, was founded.

1991Going after AmericaAXA took advantage of the demutualization of The Equitable Life Assurance Company, one of the top life insurers in the United States, to acquire an equity interest.

1990Diversification of businesses in FranceAlpha Assurances was formed to sell life insurance and specialize in direct insurance. A year later, the direct marketing business separated from Alpha to form Direct Assurance.

1989Growth spurtAXA took control of the prestigious Compagnie du Midi, making the Group France's number 2 insurer, just behind UAP.

1988Sustained and steady growthAXA and Compagnie du Midi, the holding company for Assurances du Groupe de Paris (AGP), whose banking division was known as Crédit Parisien, merged their insurance businesses. The Group now had several subsidiaries in Europe. Uni Europe, an insurance brokerage, was created.

1986Unprecedented stock market warAt the end of a stock market battle that had France's financial press holding its breath, AXA gained control of Secours and La Providence. To acquire the latter, Claude Bébéar put 2.2 billion francs on the table.

1985The beginning The new group is looking to adopt an international name. Claude Bébéar, AXA chairman makes his decision on AXA to become the Group corporate name.

1982France's number one private insurerMutuelles Unies bought out the Drouot group. Claude Bébéar became chairman and CEO of the newly formed Mutuelles Unies / Drouot group, France's leading private insurer.

1978Birth of Mutuelles UniesThe Group acquired a controlling interest in La Compagnie parisienne de garantie, which was renamed Mutuelle Parisienne de Garantie. The Ancienne Mutuelle group had become Mutuelles Unies.

1977Reinsurance, a full-fledged businessSince reinsurance has acquired the status of a separate business from insurance, a reinsurance specialist, Ancienne Mutuelle Réassurance (AMRé) was created. Its role as a trailblazer of international development was confirmed by the policy of establishing offices in the world's major financial centers.

1958Claude Bébéar's debutClaude Bébéar began his insurance career with Ancienne Mutuelle, which at the time was France's 24th largest insurer. He went to work for the Canadian subsidiary, where he developed life insurance products before returning to France to step up the company's international development.

1955The roots of international growthAncienne Mutuelle turned toward the international market with the acquisition of Provinces-Unies, a company based in Quebec.

1946Birth of the Ancienne Mutuelle GroupThree previously independent business lines - Fire, Life and Accident - merged in a new structure, the Ancienne Mutuelle Group, out of which the future AXA Group later emerged.

1817The origins of AXAThe AXA Group was created through the merger of several insurance companies, the oldest of which - La Compagnie d'Assurance Mutuelle contre l'Incendie dans les départements de la Seine Inférieure et de l'Eure - was founded in Rouen 10 months after the establishment of the Mutuelle ACL, which is France's oldest insurance company.